Electric switching apparatus



'Mar :h 24, 1931. J. A. AURINGER ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Jan.

Inventor Jag A.Aur'i.nger', W

HL 5 Attorney,

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNI-TED sm'ras PATENT OFFICE}.

JAY A. AURINGER, 0F BYWOOD, UPPER- DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A- CORPORATION OF NEW YORK- ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS Application filed January 5, 1929. serial no. 330347! My invention relates to electric switching apparatus of that type inwhichthe main circuit controlling switch forms a part of a movable structure provided with isolating contacts which in accordance with the posi'- tionof the movable structure are adapted to engage cooperating isolating contacts on a fixed structure. 7

The object of my inventionis the provision of a switch of this type having improved shutter mechanism for covering the contacts on the fixed structure which is simple inconstruction, positive and relatively uiet in operation, effective in the closed position against" interference which might endanger the life of an ignorant or careless person and inexpensive'to manufacture;

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective-view of a truck'panelswit'ch involving my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail drawn to a larger scale of the shutter mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a further detail drawn to a still larger scale.

The truck panel switch which I have chosen to illustrate-my invention is shownco'mpri'sing certain structural features which are common to switches of this type, namely, a fixed structure or housing having isolating switch contacts adapted to be permanently connected to the usual bus bars and feeders of the station and a movable structure or truck carrying the controlpanel and the main both preferably constructed of fabricated:

steel. The latter is mounted on wheels 3 and is shown provided with an upper set of isolating contacts 4 arranged diagonally and a lower set of similar contacts 5 arranged horizontally. An oil switch, not shown, controlled from the switch panel; also ot shown, controls the circuit connection be tween these two sets of isolating contacts;

The rearportion' of the-housingis in the former aclosed compartment in which are mounted two sets'offixed isolatingetntacts? which alin'e and" are adapted to connect with the corresponding contacts'ofthetruck To avoid confusion in the drawin but one oi the contacts 7 is shown but it will be understood that the number and arrangement of these contacts areth'e sameaseontactsrand 5; The front ortien of thehousiu is shown comprising the side plates 9', of which the one on the" near side has been removed: for" clearness in illustration, the lower" side plates 10, and the bottom plates" 11' which form t'ra'ck's upon which may run the wheels 3* of the truck. window or opening in the front wall of the closedrear ortion permit s the contacts 4 and 5=to project into'that portion andto engage the corresponding fixed con-' tacts 7 when the movable structure" is rolled into thefixed structure. To prevent'anypossibility of an attendant or other person coming in contact with the live contacts 7 whenthe truck is in a Withdrawn or inoperative position, I have provided the shutters 12 which automatically close the'wind'ow when the truck'is withdrawn and which reopen in response to the inward movement of the truck. Each shutter 12 comprises two 1301"- tions or members 1 3 and 14 pivotally connectedtoeach other so as tofold one upon the' other as shown more distinctly in Fig. 2; Member 14 is pivoted to the housing being shown mounted on pivot'pin 15 at the sideof the housing. The free edgeo-f member 13 has projec'ting pins at the top and bottom onwhich are mounted rollers which run in the guides or tracks 1 6and 1-7 respectively;- That end of each track adjacent the shutter pivot bends forward slightly as shown at'19in Figl- 2 for the purpose of giving the shutteran ad ditional outward throw when it is moved to the full open position.

The operating mechanism for the shutter comprises-the levers 22, shown' as angle irons, pivoted at one endby bo1t23 tethe res ective side plates'10' and normally inclined so that rollers 24 on opposite sides of the truck may engage the inward flanges 25 of the levers and swing the levers upwardly when the truck is rolled into the housing. In as much as the shutters and the operating mechanism are similar in constructionon the two sides of the housing that onone side only will be described. Referring to Fig. 2, the lever 22 at that end thereof opposite its fulcrum has the frame 27 supporting the'inwardly extending pin 28 and has-the upward extension 29 the purpose of which will be desc lbed later. Operating shaft 30, journalled at its respective ends in the bracket 31 and in plate 11 has secured to it the shutter engaging arm 32. This arm is slotted for apart of its length and engaging in the slot is the pin 33 fastended to shutter member 13. I arrange shaftclose tothe sides-of the housing andnear the pivot rod 15 ofthe shutter, thereby av )id-.v

ing interference with the truclr and facilitating'the operation of the shutter, the members of which when swung to the open position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, fold snugly upon each other and lie close to the side plate 9. On the lower end of the shaft is the cam 35 which as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 comprises a segment of cy; nderv having a spiral groove 36 formed therein which receives the pin 28. By this construc-.

tion it will be'seen that the movement of the.

lever 22 as-a result of rolling the truck into and out of the housing turns the shaft 30 to,

open and closethe shutter, the parts being so constructed and related that when thetruck is in its withdrawn position the shutters are tightly closed and when the truck is rolled into the housing the shutters are automatically opened to the full open position. This 7 opening movement, however, does not begin until the rear face 01f the truck has passed beyond the front edge of the side plates 9, therebypreventing a personfrom reaching in and coming in contact with the live contacts 7. The spiral groove 36 terminates at both its upper and lower ends in straight or axial portions. The straight portion at the upper end-accommodatesany over-tra cl of the operating pin 28 when raised by the rolling inof the trucli; the straight portion at the lower end serves to lock the shutters 1n the closed position, thereby preventing aperson from pulling orprying open the shutters when he truck is withdrawn. Although the weight of the levers 22 may in certain cases be found sufficient to insure the closing operation of the shutters I prefer to make this operation more positive and to this end I have applied the spring 38 which is'compressed between the extension 29 and the collar 39 fixed on shaft 30. p

While I have described only one embodiment of my inventionI do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown and 'de- SC-i ibed itwill be apparent that many HIOCll fications therein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A truck panel switch comprising fixed and movable. structures having cooperating contacts secured respectively thereto, a shutterfor the contacts of thefixed structure comprising a pairofmembers hinged to each other at their adjacent edges and mounted to extend in alinement over the contacts of the fixed structure or to fold upon each other at the side ofthe fixed structure, an operating shaft for said shutters, an arm on said shaft connected with one of said members, a member controlled by said movable structure, and an irreversible cam interconnecting said member and said shaft for operating said shaft.

2. A truck panel switch comprising a fixed structure having isolating contacts, a movable structure having cooperating isolating contacts, a shutter pivotally mounted atone side of the fixed structure, said shutter comprising two pivotally connected portions, a guide for. one of said portions, a rotatable operatin shaft adjacent the pivot mounting of the shutter, an arm on the shaft connected to'said one portion, and irreversible cam operatively connected to said shaft and a pivoted member on the fixed structure controlled by the movablestructure for operating said cam.

3. Atruclr panel switch comprising a fixed ,housing having isolating contacts, a truck having cooperating isolating contacts, shutters adapted to cover the contacts of the fixed housing, and operating means for the shutters, said means comprising a lever pivoted to. the fixed housing and arranged in the path of movement of thetruck, a rotatable shaft connected with one of the shutters, and a cam connection between the shaft and the lever.

4. A truck panel switch comprising a fixed housing having isolatin contacts, a truck having cooperating isolating contacts, shut ters adapted to cover the contacts of the fixed housing, and operating means for the shutters, said means comprising a lever pivoted to the fixed housing and arranged in the path 

